Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Municipal Court
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Municipal Court
You can: Contact the court to reschedule your appearance, please call (406) 657-8490. You can appear on a different open-court session. Open-court is held 3 weeks a month on every Monday and Friday at 9:00 am.
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Municipal Court
City of Billings Warrants | Please call the Billings Municipal Court - Phone: 406.657.8490 or
Billings Police Department - Phone: 406.657.8460
Yellowstone County Justice Court (misdemeanor) Warrants | Yellowstone County Justice Court
Yellowstone County District Court (felony) Warrants | Please call the Yellowstone County District Court -
Phone: 406.256.2851
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A warrant will be issued for your arrest.Municipal Court
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Municipal Court
If you have been cited for a civil infraction of Billings Municipal Code which is punishable by fine, but not imprisonment, and in some instances, and Order of Abatement requiring you to fix the underlying code violation. Civil infractions are not criminal charges, and you cannot be sentenced to jail time for a civil infraction. IF YOU DENY THIS VIOLATION AND REQUEST A TRIAL: YOU may bring witnesses and present your case to the Municipal Judge. The citing officer must prove that you committed the infraction by clear and convincing evidence. YOU may represent or hire an attorney at your expense to represent you. If you hire an attorney, you must notify the Court immediately in writing. Since you are not facing the possibility of jail time, you are not entitled to have a public defender appointed to represent you. IF you fail to show up for your trial on your trial date, OR IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND OR APPEAR to a "No Appearance Required" citation within Fourteen (14) days, the Court will enter a default judgement against you for the fine amount, authorized surcharges under state law and city ordinance, court costs and fees as provided in BMCC Section 18-1204, in addition to a possible Order of Abatement. Unpaid default judgements will be forwarded to collections and subject to an additional 30% collection fee.
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You must fill out the request for excusal.Municipal Court
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No, there are certain charges you must appear for. Most minor traffic tickets are able to be paid for at the window rather than appearing in front of the Judge.Municipal Court
City Attorney
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City Attorney
The phone number is (406) 256-2870. Click the following link to visit the website: Yellowstone County Attorney
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City Attorney
Order of Protection applications are available at the clerk's office for Billings Municipal Court (2nd floor City Hall) and Yellowstone County Justice Court (6th floor Yellowstone County Courthouse). Return completed applications to the clerk's office for review by a judge. There is no charge for an Order of Protection.
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If the ticket was recent, we will ask that you contact the Billings Police Officer who issued the ticket. Often times the officer will remember what the offender looked like and can verify that you were not the individual he/she issued the citation to. After a thorough review of the police reports, court records and a visit with the police officer, the City Attorney's Office will determine whether or not to dismiss the charge against you.City Attorney
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City Attorney
Misdemeanors offenses that are committed inside the City limits are prosecuted by the Billings City Attorney’s Office, which are handled in Billings Municipal Court. These cases are investigated by the Billings Police Department. The website is as follows: Victim-Services-Information . The Billings City Attorney’s Office phone number is (406) 657-8205. All misdemeanors that are committed outside of the City limits but still in Yellowstone County, such as Lockwood, Shepherd, Huntley/Worden, Custer, and even some locations inside of the city limits, such as the Metra or certain parks, are handled in Justice Court and are prosecuted by the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office. These cases are investigated by various law enforcement agencies such as the Montana Highway Patrol, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Fish & Game, and Motor Carrier Services. The County Attorney’s Office also handles any and all felony crimes committed in all of Yellowstone County. The phone number for the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office is (406) 256-2870. The website is as follows: Yellowstone County Attorney The Laurel City Attorney’s Office prosecutes misdemeanor criminal offenses that occur within the city limits of Laurel. These cases are handled in Laurel City Court. The phone number for the Laurel City Attorney’s Office is (406) 259-8611. Laurel, MT - City Attorney
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City Attorney
We are located on the 2nd floor of City Hall at 316 North 26th Street in Billings. You may park in Park 3, a parking garage located on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and North 27th Street. The entrance to Park 3 is located on 2nd Avenue North. There is also metered parking available in downtown Billings. Garage-Locations-Rates
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City Attorney
If it is an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you want to report a crime that has already occurred and you live within the city limits, please contact the Billings Police Department at (406) 657-8200. A peace officer will respond and start an investigation by asking you a series of questions. Once the investigation is complete, the officer may or may not arrest the individual. If no arrest is made, the report may be submitted to the City Attorney’s Office to be reviewed by a prosecutor who will decide what charge(s), if any, should be prosecuted. It is at the prosecutor’s discretion whether or not each case is charged.
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The City Attorney’s Office represents the City of Billings in criminal cases and not individual persons. Victims are consulted throughout a case and assisted through court procedures related to criminal prosecution. Their input is sought after and given utmost consideration; however, victims are not personally represented by the City Attorney’s Office. Our office cannot give legal advice. You have the right to obtain private counsel if you feel it is necessary.City Attorney
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Every attempt is made to thoroughly consult with and consider the wishes of a victim or witness in a criminal case, but they do not “press” charges against an individual. Just as law enforcement has an obligation to investigate a crime, a prosecutor has an ethical obligation to uphold the criminal law. Ultimately, all decisions whether to prosecute a case or not and deciding how the cause can best be resolved will be decided by the prosecutor.City Attorney
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City Attorney
The number for the Yellowstone County Detention Facility is (406) 256-6881.
The website is: Yellowstone County Detention Center, Inmate Search
City Clerk
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City Clerk
Contact Municipal Court at (406) 657-8490. Municipal Court is located at 316 N. 26th St. on the 2nd Floor.
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Contact the District Court at (406) 256-2851. District Court is located in the Yellowstone County Courthouse at 217 N. 27th St.City Clerk
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Contact the Yellowstone County Motor Vehicle Department at (406) 256-2833 located in the Yellowstone County Courthouse, 217 N. 27th St.City Clerk
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City Clerk
Contact the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder's Office at (406) 256-2785 located on the 3rd floor of City Hall at 316 N. 26th Street.
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City Clerk
Contact the City of Billings Finance Division at (406) 657-8364 located at 316 N. 26th St.
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Contact the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court at (406) 256-2851 located in Room 702 of the Yellowstone County Courthouse.City Clerk
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City Clerk
Visit https://www.billingsmt.gov/107/City-Council to find the council representative for your ward.
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The City Council Regular Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The City Council Work Sessions are held on the first and third Mondays of each month. If a Federal Holiday falls on a Monday, the meetings are held on the following Tuesday.City Clerk
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Contact the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court at (406) 256-2869 located in Room 704 of the Yellowstone County Courthouse.City Clerk